Overview & Reviews

For more than 100 years now, Ford Motor Company has been selling mass-produced automobiles in the United States and around the globe. Known as one of the Big Three American manufacturers, Ford has attracted millions of loyal customers with a wide range of vehicles that offer considerable value. The automaker's trucks and SUVs have been especially popular. For decades, Ford's F-Series truck has been the best-selling vehicle in America.

The company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903. Ford dreamed of building a car for the masses, and that's precisely what he did, most notably with the immortal Model T of 1908-'27. The latter was bought by 16.5 million Americans during its 20-year lifespan and was affordable enough for Ford's own factory workers to purchase. Ford's early years were also distinguished by its introduction of the moving assembly line. It was the first to utilize this more cost-effective method of production, and its innovation became a mainstay of the manufacturing process.

Ford expanded into the luxury-car market with its purchase of Lincoln Motor Company in 1925. Over the next few years, the company broadened its focus even further by creating the Mercury division to produce mid-priced cars. By the late '30s, Ford had unveiled the stylish Lincoln Zephyr, introduced a low-priced V8 engine and built more than 25 million vehicles.

The 1950s saw the introduction of the legendary Thunderbird. Offering sleek styling and spirited performance wedded to available luxury features like power windows and a signal-seeking radio, the car was a huge hit. Another model of that decade, the Edsel, met with a somewhat less enthusiastic reception. In the wake of abysmal sales, the Edsel was discontinued just a few months into its third model year.

Ford regained its footing in the early 1960s with the introduction of the compact Falcon, a model that was warmly received by the public. By the middle of the decade the automaker had given enthusiasts something to cheer about with the launch of the sporty Mustang, a car that went on to become one of the biggest sellers of its day. Buyers adored the Mustang's low price, available powerful V8 engines and sporty styling. The Mustang even created a brand-new vehicle category: the pony car.

By the 1970s, Ford, like other domestic automakers, was starting to suffer the effects of changing consumer tastes and new government regulations. Many of its cars became shadows of their former selves. But the seeds of rebirth were planted in this decade. In 1979, the company acquired a stake in Mazda; this move would later aid Ford significantly in co-development projects. The company also emerged with a new mindset of global competitiveness.

By the mid-to-late '80s, Ford was showing new strength with its popular Escort and Taurus models while further expanding its empire with the purchase of the Aston Martin and Jaguar brands. Meanwhile, its full-size LTD sedan (later renamed the Crown Victoria) remained a staple of taxi companies and police forces throughout America.

Ford rode a wave of popularity in the 1990s, thanks in part to the huge success of its Explorer midsize SUV. The truck played a huge role in ushering in the era of the SUV. In 1999, Ford expanded its family yet again with the purchase of Volvo's car division, and, in 2000, it acquired Land Rover. For awhile, there was talk of Ford even taking General Motors' spot as the No. 1 automaker in the world.

But the new millennium initially saw a downturn for Ford. Increased competition, a continuing operating loss for Jaguar, legacy costs and a reliance on SUVs for profit took their toll. To compensate, the company sold Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo and introduced a wave of successful new products. Models like the F-150, Fusion, Fiesta, Focus, Flex and Mustang have allowed Ford to regain its health and standing as a very competitive manufacturer.

User Reviews:

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  MY EDDIE - 2000 Ford Explorer
  By JOJO JO - March 2 - 2:00 am

  GREAT SUV, DOES IT ALL, GOOD WEATHER OR BAD. DEPENDABLE GOOD LOOKING AND COMFORTABLE, WE JUST BOUGHT ANOTHER ONENOW WE HAVE TWO , BOTH GREAT

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  great car - 2001 Ford Focus
  By hockeyfeva - March 2 - 2:00 am

  great car, never any problems, runs great, itll treat you right if you keep the maintenance up, comfortable, nice interior design, exterior design and different you will turn heads

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  Great Trucks (20000 - 2003 Ford Ranger
  By brabber - March 2 - 2:00 am

  This is my third ranger. And I have only had one little problem with a oil pressure sensor (with 62000 miles). The trucks are solid and never seem to have problems. I have driven thousands of rough miles in Baja Mexico and not had any problems, which is a very good thing when I am in the middle of no where. I have read complaints about dealers fixing problems but I havent had to take any of mine in.

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  The Return of The King - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By jchiar - March 2 - 1:10 am

  Great car. Use to own a 69 fastback and hated the designs of the Mustang ever since - until now. This years model is the best since then. It has classic styling, awesome performance and the best thing about it is that it is completely re-tooled. Which means it is not related to any of the 71-04 models. It gets looks wherever I drive it from all age groups. It has brought back my enthusiasm for the Mustang again. I would recommend this car to anyone.

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  O.K. vehicle - 1993 Ford Ranger
  By Somewhat Satisfied - March 2 - 12:33 am

  Ive had my Ford Ranger 4X4 for almost a year and a half now and it has been ok to me. The engine, even though its a 93, still runs well, just a little rough on idling (probably from cheap gas and the ethanol theyve started adding to fuel). It is reliable in the sense that it will move me around, but there is a serious lack of space. Im 60" and I feel like Im in a clown car when I drive. Theres no way to lean the seats back enough. I enjoy driving my truck but I have to say that there are plenty of problems running around in it. I take care of my first car, but theres an oil leak I cant fix, an a/c that will cost half what the truck is worth to fix (after compressor), and a bad fuel guage

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  Very dissapointed - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By Going back to Chevy - March 1 - 11:58 pm

  We bought our Explorer less than a year ago and its at the Ford dealership again to have the transmission overhauled. Fortunately the first time the dealership paid for the cost of the repairs since it occured within the first 30 days of ownership. This time some of the cost will be picked by the extended warranty company. What happens next year when something else goes wrong with the transmission? I wish I had read the reviews on the 2002 Explorer before I purchased it. I would have thought twice about buying it. Normally I would not have bought a car that was five years old, but it looked so good and drove great. Appearances certainly can be deceiving. Im afraid to see whats next.

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  Freestyle very versatile - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Neeltje Vismantas - March 1 - 10:40 pm

  Ive only had this vehicle for a little over 4 weeks. It is fun to drive and has enough power. It has plenty of room for very tall people although when they are 6 feet 7 inches tall you might want to skip the moonroof. Most all of us in the family are tall. With AWD it handles very good in the rain and around corners which is good for me as I have never been comfortable making right turns at higher speeds. The gas mileage is better than an SUV even though it seats 7 comfortable. So far it has been a great vehicle with absolutely no problems. It is easy to get into and out and I love to drive it as do both my very tall sons who now would like to get one.

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  Good until too many miles - 1995 Ford Windstar
  By Finally gone - March 1 - 3:50 pm

  We bought the car used with 26K on it ans will give to charity with 180K. Overall we were pleased to have it for 11 years but wish we could have had a couple more years. Had to replace the head gasket, electrical system poor at the end causing battery to go down. Overall gone on many vacations etc with good room for 7 people. Not sure about transmission at this point, will be good for parts for someone. We fared better than others, and did not pay top dollar after first year from a dealer when it was a "program car" the first year.

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  A very very comfortable car - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By John - March 1 - 1:56 pm

  All in all, very little to complain about after 5000 miles. Factory CD failed on first use, but replaced. Very comfortable to be in, although larger drivers may find their right leg too close to the center console. Complaints by critics about styling/power have proven unwarranted. People like the look of the car and havent found acceleration lacking with CVT/engine pairing. Handling is OK, not great, but ride is better than that. It is not silent at highway speeds, but not really a problem. Plenty of interior storage, huge trunk, elevated seating position; its (mostly) all good.

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  Ford Transmission are Terrible - 2005 Ford Explorer
  By dennis - March 1 - 8:40 am

  This is my third Explorer. I had a 98 that the transmission had to be rebuilt at 70K. Unfortunately, I was hit and it was totaled soon after. I bought a 2002. Started getting transmission warning lights at 36K. At 69K Ford finally admitted they cant find the problem and bought it back. I got a marginally OK deal if I bought a 2005. At 35K the converter went while I was on vacation. Spent part of my vacation sitting in the dealership and had to rent a car. I got the car back in time to return home. Back with Ford 3 times for the same problem in the next 3 mos. Now at 65K the trans is overheating and leaking. I am waiting for the diagnosis from the dealer. MY LAST FORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!